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3/24/12

Trayvon Martin

So heart-breaking. I have a teenage son who goes around wearing hoodies and walks to the convenience store for snacks. I've never worried that he'd be shot by the local neighborhood watch patroller. Should I mention that he's white? Newt Gingrich recently said it was "disgraceful" for President Obama to mention that Trayvon Martin was black. Now that (Gingrich, that is) is disgraceful. Here's a touching report (from ABC news) on how black mothers prepare their sons for the real world.

Across the country Trayvon Martin’s death has touched a raw nerve in
the African American community. It was stunning when a young, black,
unarmed teenager was gunned down, having committed no crime other than
walking through a gated community to get Skittles and iced tea.

Concern has spread across the country from ordinary citizens, to
celebrities, even the president of the United States. President Obama
said on Thursday, “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”

Although this story has exploded onto the national scene, for women
with African American sons, it is a conversation all too familiar.

“I don’t want to be like Trayvon Martin’s mom, burying my child,”
said Racine Tucker-Hamilton, a suburban mom with two teenage sons.

Tucker-Hamilton and fellow suburban mom, LeGreta Dennis, told ABC
News that they have given their sons specific instructions for survival
even though they are honor roll students.

“Basically, once they started looking like men, which is about 14 or
15, even though they’re children, I basically told them, now you’re
perceived as a black man in society,” said Dennis. “You know how they
say, ‘buyers beware,’ it’s like young men beware.”

This conversation in many black households is a non-negotiable. Even a simple trip to the grocery store is not routine.

“I tell them, always you have to keep your hands out of your pocket
because people perceive that as threatening or they may think that
you’ve stolen something,” said Tucker-Hamilton. “And if you are in
public, and the noise level starts getting a little high and a little
loud, you need to tone it down.”

Both women are keenly aware of how their sons could be perceived in
public, advising their children on nuanced aspects of their dress and
behavior. They have to remember that some view them as “under
suspicion.”

“If you walk in a building and you have your hood on from being
outside, take that hood off. If you’re in a store and you buy something,
always put your item, even if it’s a pack of gum, get it in a bag and
get your receipt so they’ll be no issue there,” said Dennis.

The moms say to always remember to smile and don’t stand too close to
people, particularly woman. They caution their sons to be aware of
their behavior around police officers if they are pulled over while
driving.

Dennis said, “Don’t reach for anything, roll down the window, be
respectful, ask the officer if you could please call your parents. I
want to be on the phone to hear the conversation.”

The mothers’ concerns are supported by research. A Justice Department
study found that black males were three to four times more likely to
have police threaten or use force against them than their white
counterparts.

Until something changes, Tucker-Hamilton admits, “It’s painful, but
it is our reality. The bottom line is, at the end of the day, I want my
sons to come home alive.”

I don't really have a problem with purely defensive over-generalization. In fact, it's probably a very good idea, if you're a woman walking home late at night, to assume every man you see is a potential rapist. This obviously does not give you a right to pull a gun on anyone and shoot them.

I share the same beliefs w.r.t purely defensive, but the definition of 'purely defensive' might be tricky. Talk about 'women being potential golddiggers' should be fine in the same vein, but I find websites admonishing such talk as misogyny.

Would you concur that the below behaviors from that quote is purely defensiveThe teenage boys also feel the pressure.Adam, Tucker-Hamilton’s son, said, “Sometimes when I’m riding in the Metro, I’ll walk right by somebody and they’ll kinda tighten up.”“You do become conscious of it when you realize that employees of the store start looking at you a certain way,” said Marcus, Dennis’ 16-year-old son.Re: pulling a gun and shooting them.. I dont think its fair to say that was Zimmerman's reaction. His reaction was just to pursue and see what it leads to. Until all the details are revealed by the police as to why the scuffle ensued, I will reserve judgement. Whenever these things happen, my mind always wanders to why guns are allowed in the open.